Geranium plant named &#39;fisblizdark&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of geranium plant named ‘Fisblizdark’, as described and illustrated, and particularly characterized by the combined features of dark-red, single flowers, large umbels and rich flowering, intense green, slightly zoned foliage, and tall, trailing, though well-branched plant habit.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofgeranium, botanically known as Pelargonium peltatum, and hereinafterreferred to by the cultivar name ‘Fisblizdark’. ‘Fisblizdark’ is aproduct of a planned breeding program which had the objective ofcreating new ivy geranium cultivars with single-type flowers, relativelyvigorous, but well-branched growth habit, and in various flower colors.‘Fisblizdark’ was originated from a hybridization made by the inventorAngelika Utecbt in a controlled breeding program in Galdar, GranCanaria, Spain, in 1996.

[0002] The female parent was the variety ‘Fiscoral’, U.S. plant patentapplication Ser. No. 09/323,151, having orange-red, double flowers,fresh-green, slightly zoned foliage, and tall, well-branched planthabit. The male parent of ‘Fisblizdark’ was a hybrid seedling, no.823/39, derived from a cross with ‘Fisrock’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,365,and characterized by deep red single-type flowers, medium-green, zonedfoliage, and medium to tall plant habit.

[0003] ‘Fisblizdark’ was selected as one flowering plant within theprogeny of the stated cross by Angelika Utecht in a controlledenvironment in Galdar, Gran Canaria, Spain, in 1997.

[0004] The first act of asexual reproduction of ‘Fisblizdark’ wasaccomplished when vegetative cuttings were taken from the initialselection in the fall of 1997 in a controlled environment in Galdar,Gran Canaria, Spain, by, or under the supervision of, Angelika Utecht.Horticultural examination of plants grown from these cuttings initiatedin the spring of 1998 in Hillscheid, Germany, and continuing thereafter,has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as hereindisclosed for ‘Fisblizdark’ are firmly fixed and are retained throughsuccessive generations of asexual reproduction.

[0005] ‘Fisblizdark’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary significantly withvariations in environment such as temperature, light intensity and daylength.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The following observations, measurements, and comparisonsdescribe plants grown in Hillscheid, Germany, and in Langley, BritishColumbia, Canada, under greenhouse conditions which approximate thosegenerally used in commercial practice.

[0007] The following traits have been repeatedly observed and aredetermined to be basic characteristics of ‘Fisblizdark’, which incombination distinguish this geranium as a new and distinct cultivar

[0008] 1. dark-red colored, round, single-type flowers;

[0009] 2. large, flat semi-spherically shaped umbels;

[0010] 3. relatively dark-green, smallish, and slightly zoned leaves;

[0011] 4. vigorous growth and relatively tall, trailing, thoughwell-branched plant habit; and

[0012] 5. early spring flowering response.

[0013] Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present inventor,the most similar in comparison to ‘Fisblizdark’ is ‘Fizzard’, U.S. PlantPatent No. 10,992. In comparison to ‘Fizzard’, ‘Fisblizdark’ has adistinctly darker red flower color, slightly shorter upper petals andtherefore more round shaped florets, and darker green, smaller, somewhatstronger zoned leaves with entire margins, while ‘Fizzard’ develops weakcrenation near the tips. Furthermore, flowering response of‘Fisblizdark’ is early, but not extremely early, as with ‘Fizzard’

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0014] The accompanying photographic drawings show typical flower andfoliage characteristics of ‘Fisblizdark’ with colors being as true aspossible will illustrations of this type. The measurements were taken inLangley, British Columbia, Canada, on Jul. 20, 2000. The plants weregrowing in 6 inch pots in a greenhouse, and had 15 weeks of cultivationtime from the planting of rooted cuttings on Apr. 3, 2000. The plantshad not been pinched.

[0015] In the following description color references are made to TheRoyal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (RHS). The color values weredetermined indoors from flowers developed in a greenhouse in May, 2000,in Hillscheid, Germany.

CLASSIFICATION:

[0016]Botanical.—A hybrid of the species Pelargonium peltatum L'Héritierex Aiton

[0017]Commercial.—Ivy-leafed geranium, cv. ‘Fisblizdark’

INFLORESCENCE:

[0018] Umbel:

[0019]Shape.—Almost semi-spherically, somewhat irregular.

[0020]Average diameter.—119 mm.

[0021]Average depth.—50 mm.

[0022]Peduncle length.—133 mm.

[0023]Peduncle color.—Medium green, RHS 143 A to 143 B.

[0024]Pedicel length.—35 mm, with ‘joint/swelling’.

[0025]Pedicel color.—Mainly dark-violet, RHS 59A -61 A.

[0026]Number of flowers per umbel.—About 7-10.

[0027] Corolla:

[0028]Average diameter.—49 mm.

[0029]Form.—Single-type.

[0030]Shape.—Nearly round outline.

[0031]Number of petals.—5.

[0032]Color (general tonality from a distance of three meters).—Darkred.

[0033]Color of upper petals.—RHS 46 A.

[0034]Markings of upper petals.—Black stripes (veins) at the base ofupper petals.

[0035]Color of lower petals.—RHS 46 A.

[0036]Color of lower surface of petals.—RHS 46 B to 53 B.

[0037]Color of sepals.—Grass-green, RHS 143 A.

[0038]Number of sepals.—5.

[0039] Bud: (just prior to petals unfolding)

[0040]Shape.—Narrow elliptic to asymmetric.

[0041]Sepal color (lower part).—Grass-green, RHS 143 A.

[0042]Petal color (upper part).—Deep red, RHS 46 A-B.

[0043]Length.—19 mm.

[0044]Width.—8 mm.

[0045] Reproductive organs:

[0046]Androecium.—7 fertile anthers, with whitish filaments, orangepollen, the lower side of the mature (open) anther is black.

[0047]Gynoecium.—5-6-lobed, purple stigma, RHS 61 B, whitish style.

[0048]Fertility/seed set.—Weak seed set through the summer, more seedsare developed from late summer to autumn.

[0049] Spring flowering response period: In Hillscheid, Germany, in2000, plants had on average 2.1 flowers opened 12 weeks after plantingof rooted cuttings (pinched plants).

[0050] Outdoor flower production: Rich and continuously flowering, theflower count in Hillscheid, Germany, indicated about 4-5 inflorescenceper plant in mid May.

[0051] Durability: Relatively good shatter resistance for asingle-flowered variety, good rain resistance, petal color may slightlyfade when maturing.

PLANT:

[0052] Foliage:

[0053]Shape.—Ivy-shaped, nearly closed base, distinct lobes, and glossysurface.

[0054]Margin.—Entire, apart from the lobes.

[0055]Size of leaf.—75 mm.

[0056]Color of upper surface.—Medium to dark green, approximately RHS137 A to 137 B.

[0057]Color of lower surface.—Closest to RHS 137 C.

[0058]Color of zonation.—Brown, near RHS 166 A, forming a narrow ring.

[0059]Tolerance of botrytis.—Good, due to the smooth, glossy surface.

[0060] General appearance and form:

[0061]Internode length.—45-55 mm.

[0062]Branching pattern.—6.6 branches.

[0063]Length of branches.—65 cm (15 week old plants in Langley, Canada)100-110 cm (in mid September in Hillscheid, Germany 31 weeks old).

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of geranium plant named‘Fisblizdark’, as described and illustrated.